CONTINENTAL 


AGRICULTURAL  AND  INDUSTRIAL 


CO-OPERATIVE 


COLONY. 


Introduction  and  Constitution, 


ORGANIZED 
October  ist,  1880. 


/ 2- 


ITS  AIM  IS: 

1st.  To  secure  homes  away  from  the  crowded  centers  of  pop- 
ulation, give  air  to  the  shop,  society  to  the  field. 

2d.  To  combine  manufacturing  and  farming  in  such  a way, 
that  one  may  alternately  wprk  in  the  fields  or  the  shops:  to  pro- 
duce collectively  to  consume  freely, 

3d.  Organize  labor  for  the  good  of  all,  by  creating  permanent 
and  healthful  employment  to  obviate  workingmen  from  being 
periodically  made  unable  to  obtain  work.  To  put  a stop  to  im- 
position. To  proclaim  everybody’s  right  to  work.  To  conquer 
independence  by  legally  obtaining  possession  of  the  soil;  to  es- 
tablish just  dealing  in  the  direct  exchange  of  our  goods,  and  to 
establish  solidarity. 

MOTTO. 

Decentralization;  Free  Soil; 
tree  Shop;  Liberty;  Labor; 

Economy;  Solidarity; 

Justice. 


ERA  OF  JUSTICE. 


As  main  force  has  perfected  the  present  political  order, 
that  barbarous  organization  born  of  war,  work  of  despo- 
tism and  death,  so  we  have  to  employ  reason,  the  pacifi- 
cation in  the  new  social  order,  being  a work  of  indepen- 
dence and  life,  that  is  to  say,  the  organization  of  labor, 
which  is  nothing  else  but  revindication  of  our  rights. 

Nobody  in  this  world  has  actually  security neither 

capitalist,  master,  nor  workmen  who  are  dispossessed  of 
everything;  there  is  for  all  of  them  always  inquietude, fear 
and  over  all  hatred ! This  night,  that  chaos  has  to  find 
one  end,  and  the  light,  or  social  harmony  has  to  be  born. 

The  master  has  to  abandon  his  responsibility  and  his 
title  of  protector ; the  workmen  has  to  think  of  directing 
his  work  himself,  must  cease  to  be  a mere  pupil,  and  has 
to  accept  the  whole  responsibility  of  his  work.  The  one 
must  cease  to  be  a master,  the  other  must  cease  to  be  a 
slave,  all  will  be  unified. 

THE  ERA  OF  THE  MACHINE 

Carries  with  it  per  force,  emmancipation  ; it  is  not  any- 
more possible  that  so  powerful  an  instrument  shall  not 
work  for  the  interest  of  all.  We  therefore  have  to  appro- 
priate it,  and  must  develop  its  power  and  usefulness,  which 
will  shorten  the  hours  of  labor  and  will  give  us,  conse- 
quently an  increase  of  leisure  and  abundance.  Man  need 
no  longer  to  keep  man  by  speculation  and  competition  ; 
there  will  be  similitude  of  exchange,  the  simple,  will  take 
place  of  the  complicated,  security  will  replace  doubt  by 
solidarity ; bankruptcy  will  grow  to  be  impossible,  as  well 
as  fraud  ; credit  will  be  destroyed,  because  it  will  no  long- 
er be  a necessity.  It  is  therefore,  .an  abolition  of  rents, 


— 4 — 


all  the  intermediate  will  be  made  tributary  to  production, 
which  will  consequently  increase  abundance  by  economy. 

The  mutual  insurance  societies  in  their  thousand  forms 
will  be  amalgamated,  and  security  will  be  mad j more 
perfect.  Charity,  this  monstrosity,  this  humiliation,  will 
exist  no  more,  and  the  slothful,  who  come  together  to  give 
it,  as  well  as  those  who  receive  it,  will  be  also  made  help- 
mates in  the  production  ; every  state  of  servitude  will  be 
given  back  to  production,  for  all  those  serve  by  them  will 
be  obliged  to  serve  themselves,  be  it  by  cleaning  their 
houses ' and  cooking  and  making  their  own  dress  and 
washing  their  clothing,  also  economical.  Man  will  leave 
this  social  hell  of  misery,  and  will  enter  the  social  para- 
dise of  abundance  and  independence.  He  has  to  fear 
nothing  anymore  but  the  scourges  of  nature,  against  which 
he  will  find  time  to  preserve  himfelf. 

Devotion  to  his  family  will  be  his  highest  aim,  the  home, 
fireside,  will  again  spring  forth  by  stability.  Should  the 
locomotive  detach  any  member  from  the  fireside  quickly, 
it  will  be  united  again  by  telephone,  and  life  which  now 
weighs  us  down  often  by  the  absence  of  those  dear  to  ns, 
will  exist  no  more,  the  fireside  near  and  far  will  be  the 
sanctuary.  Then,  degradation,  hypocrisy,  parasitism  will 
disappear,  welcome  will  then  be  washed  in  reality,  one 
will  not  incline  anymore  to  evil  and.  idleness  which  is 
death  ; but  will  appear  in  the  presence  of  light,  good  and 
work,  which  is  life. 

SELF  DELEGATION. 

The  right  of  labor  gives  us  the  right  of  self-delegation 
without  the  ballot-box.  Every  man  must  represent  him- 
self in  any  case.  That  is  majorities  and  minorities  must 
be  suppressed. 

- Nobody  can  breathe  for  you,  eat  for  you,  drink  for  you, 
sleep  for  you,  work  for  you,  walk  for  you,  love  for  you 
or  reprocreate  for  you.  There  are  natural  functions,  all 
what  man  need  is  therefore  natural  functions  and  must 


—5— 


fill  them  himself.  Nobody  must  represent  you  anywhere 
but  yourself.  You  must  alternately  (if  co-operatively 
engaged)  have  the  superintendence  in  every  case,  be  it  in 
work,  iii  exchange,  in  justice,  etc. 

When  people  want  representatives  they  are  an  aristo- 
cratic people,  because  they  have  servants  employed  at 
wages.  Delegates  or  representatives  are  such  servants. 

People  must  live  in  democracies,  democracies  must  rep- 
resent themselves  in  person,  not  b}T  delegation,  because 
one  man  can  represent  but  one  man. 

Superintendence  and  other  offices  must  be  a duty,  every 
man  must  fill  it.  When  a man  accepts  the  office  of  a 
delegate  for  money  he  is  a slave,  because  the  act  is  one  of 
speculation  and  submission.  None  may  decline  the  du- 
ties of  office ; all  must  perform  them  in  turn.  The  su- 
perintendent must  be  replaced  monthly  by  the  next  high- 
est member  of  the  administration  which  must  be  composed 
of  at  least  seven  members. (see  const,  art.  8,  second  par. ) 

In  this  way  all  will  govern  in  rotation,  no  government 
will  exist  to  enslave  people.  All  laws  shall  be  to  govern 
work  and  not  man.  Justice  will  be  administrated  by  a 
certain  nomber  of  the  oldest  members  of  the  colony,  or 
in  rotation  as  it  is  said  before.  Man  must  decline  no 
duty  except  in  case  of  mental  or  bodily  disability.  When 
his  place  will  be  filled  by  the  next  in  succession. 

ACCOUNT  BOOK  CURRENCY. 

1st.  Every  member  of  the  colony,  ought  to  have  a photog- 
raphed account  table,  which  will  make  thieving  almost 
impossible  or  unprofitable,  in  case  of  loss  it  shall  be  re- 
place after  application.  This  book  will  have  a similar 
one  at  the  magazine.  The  owner  may  have  many  similar 
books  with  the  picture  of  his  wife  or  children,  but  what 
his  inscribed  in  one  of  these  books  can  notbe  in  the  other. 

2nd.  All  the  goods  deposited  shall  be  entered  accord- 
ing to  their  real  worth  into  this  book,  by  the  hours  it  has 
taken  to  produce  the  goods,  which  will  be  inscribed  as 
well  as  in  the  great  book  of  the  magazine  or  store,  or  depot. 


—6— 


The  minimum  deposit  should  be  counted  by  fractions 
according  to  necessity  from  one  to  ten  hours  at  least. 

Suppose  that  you  buy  goods,  then  the  number  of  hours, 
or  value  will  be  betached  from  your  book  and  as  many  in 
the  one  deposited  in  the  store  and  both  will  be  destroyed 
in  presence  of  the  exchanger.  So  when  the  value  is  re- 
ceived back,  the  bond  (or  certificate)  will  be  destroyed 
in  the  same  manner  as  the  postage  stamp.  In  this  way 
there  can  be  no  more  bonds  in  circulation  than  for  the  val 
ue  of  goods  in  the  store.  Furthermore,  these  bonds  rep- 
reseiiting  from  one  to  ten  hours  and  over  can  be  put  into 
circulation  and  can  serve  for  private  transactions  outside 
of  the  magazine.  It  will  therefore  after  the  means  of  re- 
ducing exchange  to  its  utmost  simplicity  and  greatest  jus 
tice,  will  suppress  stock  jobbing  for  speculation,  and  those 
who  will  not  produce  will  not  consume  and  there  will  be 
no  capital  or  extra  bonds  to  abuse  the  products  of  others. 

Every  producer  will  have  his  money  or  bonds  at  his 
mark,  there  will  be  no  necessity  to  put  this  bonds  into 
circulation,  the  most  part  of  the  time  they  will  be  ex- 
changed by  the  proprietors  in  the  store  of  his  depot.  If 
the  proprietor  is  traveling  he  may  have  his  photographed 
account  table,  there  will  be  no  doubt  about  his  personality, 
the  seller  will  detach  the  bond  from  the  book  and  send  it 
to  the  department  where  the  depot  were  made  to  be  de- 
stroyed and  to  receive  an  equivalent  value  as  the  one  taken 
in  his  store. 

RESOLUTIONS,  (OR  BY-LAWS. 

1st.  Whereas,  the  political  action  puts  off  for  to  long 
a time  the  organization  of  labor,  which  we  are  considering 
the  immediate  means  to  assure  our  existence,  because  it 
will  insure  us  work  and  just  repartition. 

2d.  Whereas,  our  products  are  brought  into  commer- 
cial houses  and  we  cannot  redeem  them,  because  of  a com- 
bination ingenious,  but  criminal,  and  as  we  do  not  receive 
the  actual  worth  of  our  products,  and  that,  speculation 


— 7— 


puts  them  at  an  extravagant  price,  and  whereas  products 
and  money  are  in  the  same  hands,  in  the  business  houses. 

3d.  Whereas,  our  women  and  children  have  to  submit 
to  an  abominable  evil,  they  having  to  work  for  less  wages* 
than  men,  and  are  used  to  replace  us  in  our  workshops, 
without  control  to  their  morality,  they  are  liable  to  find 
a thousand  ways  of  being  corrupted,  and, 

4th.  Whereas,  we  cannot,  without  paying  taxes,  lodge 
ourselves  in  the  house  which  we  have  built,  and  which  be- 
long to  us,  and  as  we  are  by  this  put  below  the  brute, 
which  built  its  own  nest,  and  which  lives  there  without 
paying  taxes : 

5th.  Whereas,  man  needs  the  horison,  and  to  realize 
the  local  saying:  uman  must  earn  his  bread  at  the  sweat 
of  his  brow”  means,  firstly  to  be  agriculturist,  the  me- 
chanics, then  artist,  scientist,  etc. 

6th.  Whereas,  decentralization  is  the  suppression  of  all 
despotism  and  all  vices,  as  war,  domineering,  servitude, 
prostitution,  policy,  charity,  laziness,  all  miseries ; and  it 
is  also  impossible  to  organize  a new  social  order  (or  state) 
based  upon  justice  and  harmony  in  a center  corrupted  by 
injustice  and  speculation  without  coming  in  contact  with 
a thousand  inconveniences,  therefore,  in  order  to  avoid 
an  interested  opposition  we  have  thought,  that  it  is  pref- 
erable to  return  to  where  our  nature  calls  us,  and  to  or- 
ganize ourselves ; the  antagonism  of  the  existing  system 
which,  feeling  itself  perishing,  will  try  inevitably  to  drag 
us  down  or  fetter  our  action. 

7th.  Whereas,  the  earth  is  a universal  property, which 
no  one  has  a right  to  deliver  up  to  speculation,  without 
committing  an  act  of  robbery  and  treason  to  mankind  ,and 
whereas  the  habit  of  such  speculation  is  the  production 
of  social  madness,  brought  forth  by  war,  despotism  and 
ignorance,  and  is  maintained  by  some  ambitious  ones, 
who  are  pretentious  enough  to  govern  their  fellow  citizens 
by  main  force  considering  them  their  slaves. 

8th.  Whefeas,  man  upholds  his  existence  from  the 


product  on  of  the  soil,  which  he  must  cultivate,  as  other- 
wise he  would  starve  ; and  whereas  everyone  has  a right 
to  settle  where  there  is  no  settlement  yet,  and  to  take  as 
much  of  land  as  may  be  necessary  for  the  maintenance  of 
himself  and  family. 

9th.  In  order  to  avoid  conflicts  we  hereby  declare  to 
submit  ourselves  to  the  social  laws  of  to — day — that  is, 
that  we  take  possession  of  the  soil  under  such  conditions 
as  those  who  own  the  land  may  demand,  but,  on  the  other 
hand,  the  delegates  of  the  nation  believe  in  this  truth  and 
this  social  justice  : The  infranchisement  of  the  soil,  all 

money  paid  for  deeds  of  sale,  shall  be  reimbursed  to  those 
who  are  entitled  to  same  as  soon  as  this  social  evil  has  been 
rectified,  therefore  be  it  resolved,  that  we  start  to-day  for 
one  n<iw  colony  in  which  the  soil  shall  cease  to  be  given 
over  to  speculation,  aud  whicli  we  declare  for  ever  free. 

10th.  Whereas,  the  trades  unions  and  others  corpo- 
rations, have  for  a long  time,  claimed  the  equity  of  labor, 
and  have  demanded  that  a just  compensation  be  paid  for 
our  work,  which  should  keep  the  balance  between  the 
production  and  the  consumption,  and  as  the  employes 
have  shown  themselves  as  being  deaf  to  our  just  wishes, 
or  incapable,  or  too  egotistical  to  give  us  steady  employ- 
ment, which  would  afford  us  the  necessary  means  for  our 
support. 

1 1th.  Whereas,  we  want  to  show  to  the  legislature  and 
to  the  administration  of  all  the  other  different  enterprises 
that  we  need  and  ask  our  enfranchisement,  and  that  we 
want  to  be  neither  v agabond,  nor  robbers,  nor  to  starve. 

12th.  Whereas  the  machines,  these  powerful  and  won- 
derful tools,  drive  us  from  our  shops,  leaving  us  without 
work,  and  submit  the  rest  of  the  workingmen  to  fight 
against~unequal  forces. 

13th.  Therefore  be  it  resolved,  that  we  organize  labor 
for  the  benefit  of  all,  by  all  possible  legal  means  so  as  to 
achieve  equity  of  labor  and  to  proclaim  our  independence, 


— 9— 


by  abolishing  work  at  wages,  which  are  nothing  but  an 
usurpation  or  suppression  of  man  by  man. 

1st.  To  organize  agriculture  to  insure  us  of  bread. 

2nd.  To  organize  the  co-operative  workshops  which 
will  work  for  the  general  interest. 

3d.  To  erect  workshops  for  women  of  the  highest  mo- 
rality, conducted  by  independent  mothers,  who  will  in- 
struct our  children  in  the  school  and  in  the  workshop, 
teaching  by  example  to  the  child  the  role  which  it  will  have 
to  enact  as  mother. 

4th.  ' To  tarify  our  products  by  the  hours  which  it  has 
cost  to  produce  them,  to  dispose  them  in  our  magazine, 
where  they  will  be  exchanged  directly  without  profit. 

5th.  To  build  houses  for  every  family  and  abolish  rent 
for  location. 

SUBSCRIPTION. 

1st.  In  order  to  attain  this  object,  every  member  of 
the  Colony  will  be  a subscriber  for  SI 00,  payable  at  his 
will,  but  in  installments  not  less  than  one  cent  per  day  or 
seven  cents  per  week. 

2rl.  All  money  paid  by  subscriber  will  open  an  equal 
credit  to  him  when  he  will  join  the  Colony  ; it  will  be  reg- 
ister in  the  book  of  the  subscriber  and  in  that  of  the  ex- 
ecutive committee  or  trustees. 

3d.  In  case  of  inability  of  a member  to  join  the  Col- 
ony, either  by  the  sickness,  death,  or  retirement,  the  mon- 
ey shall  be  repaid  to  him  or  to  his  heirs  two  years  after 
the  last  payment  made  by  the  member. 

4th.  Every  member  who  will  declare  himself  to  be 
possessor  of  $100,  shall  be  entitled  to  join  the  Colony. 

5th.  In  order  to  avoid  all  discussion  about  favoritism 
to  join  the  Colony,  the  names  of  all  credited  members, 
will  be  registered  in  his  book  and  the  great  book  of  the 
league  with  his  number  of  inscription,  in  order  that  every 
member  will  start  according  to  liis  number,  that  is  first, 
2d,  3d,  and  so  on  for  every  one. 

6th.  The  funds  remaining  in  the  hands  of  responsible 


-10- 


people  of  every  trades  anions  or  others  corparations,  which 
shall  publish  every  week  in  some  newspaper,  the  sum 
which  they  have  received. 

7th.  As  soon  a subscription  of  $20,000  will  be  real- 
ized, the  executive  committee,  shall  buy  land  and  all  nec- 
essary agricultural  and  industrial  implements  which  are 
wanted  for  about  one  hundred  workmen.  This  commit- 
tee shall  decide  which  branch  of  industry  shall  be  organ- 
ized, first,  after  agriculture,  such  as  tannery,  boot  and 
shoe  factory,  hardware  factory,  cotton  mill  etc. 

8th.  In  every  city  where  members  of  this  league- reside, 
depots  or  stores,  shall  be  established,  where  this  product 
may  be  bought  for  cost  price  by  the  members  as  well  as 
the  public  at  large. 

9th.  One  or  several  Colonies,  will  be  established  in 
every  state,  then  others,  and  as  soon  as  the  means  of  the 
league  will  allow  it, these  Colonies  will  be  united  by  routes, 
boats  and  railroads,  and  we  will  soon  have  a main  city 
and  depot  after  depot  over  this  and  the  other  continent. 


CONSTITUTION. 


1. 

DENOMINATION  OF  THE  COLONY. 

1.  Between  the  undersigned,  and  all  who  in  the  future 
may  adhere  to  the  Constitution,  a Colony  is  now  formed, 
under  the  denomination  of  Continental  Agricultural  and 
Industrial  Co-operative  Colony. 


2. 

CONDITIONS  OF  MEMBERSHIP. 

1.  To  be  admitted  a member  of  the  Colony,  the  can- 
didate shall  be,  or  become  an  American  citizen,  state  his 
nationality,  his  family  name  and  others,  age,  trade,  if  he 
is  a bachelor  or  a married  man,  the  age  sex^and  names  of 
his  children. 

No  candidate  can  be  admitted  if  he  is  of  debilitated 
health,  and  under  sixteen,  or  above — years  of  age. 

2.  The  amount  of  the  subscription  is  $100,  which 
will  serve  to  make  a first  payment  on  the  ground,  imple- 
ments and  necessaries  of  food,  until  the  first  harvest. 

The  subscriber  will  have  his  money  in  hand  and  make 
every  payment  himself. 

3.  $5  shall  be  paid  to  the  Committee  of  the  Section 
to  which  the  subscriber  belongs,  in  order  to  pay  general 
expenses  and  finish  subscriptions. — that  is  to  say  if  a man 
had  only  $50,  the  Colony  will  finish  the  amount  in  credit. 

That  money  will  be  repaid  under  conditions  required 
in  art.  XI  3d  paragraph  of  the  Cons.  The  Section  will 
have  that  money  in  the  hank,  or  otherwise  secured. 

4.  $25  at  least,  have  to  be  paid  by  the  subscriber  when 
it  will  be  credited.  The  said  member  and  his  family, 
have  to  join  the  settlement  at  their  own  expense,  he  will 


-12- 


take  is  turn  by  order  of  inscription  stated  in  his  book. 


Ill 

SECTIONS. 

1 . Sections  shall  be  organized  in  every  city,  composed 
of  three  members,  first  ,and  second  Secretary,  and  Treas- 
urer. Their  duties  shall  be  to  give  instructions  to  all 
persons  wishing  to  join  the  Colony,  to  collect  subscrip- 
tions and  receive  candidates. 

Membership  will  be  admitted,  in  making  weekly,  or 
monthly  payment,  which,  shall  not  be  less  then  one  cent 
per  day,  seven  cents  a week,  or  thirty  cents  a month,  in 
advance. 

2.  All  subscriptions  made  on  condition  of  a loan  only, 
shall  not  be  less  than  $25,  These  sums  shall  not  bear  inter- 
est. The  time  allowed  for  payment  must  be  at  least  five 
years ; the  property  of  the  Colony  will  furnish  the  neces- 
sary security.  All  creditors  will  be  honorary  members. 

The  Executive  Committee  or  Trustees,  must  be  com- 
posed of  members ; he  will  buy  land,  in  the  name  and 
for  the  Colony  ; he  shall  not  deliver  up  any  title  of  prop- 
erty, before  reimbursement  of  said  land  and  implements. 

3*  Its  Treasurer  shall  never  permit  to  be  kept  in  his 
hands  more  than  $ 75,  which  sum,  as  soon  as  obtained 
shall  be  employed  either  to  provide  new  members  with 
everything  necesssary  for  their  settlement;  or  to  facilitate 
the  development  of  the  Colon}7-,  by  adding  implements  of 
production. 

IV. 

PROPERTY. 

1.  Five  thousand  acres  will  be  bought  for  the  settle- 
ment of  one  hundred  families.  2,500,  acres  will  be  used 
for  one  or  several  parks  for  the  collective  rising  of  cattle. 

2.  One  share  or  fifty  acres,  shall  be  allowed  to  any  active 


—13— 


member  of  the  Colony,  which  property  the  said  member 
shall  be  liable  to  pa}^  at  the  same  rates  and  terms  as  de- 
termined by  the  contract  granted  to  the  Colony. 

3.  In  order  to  avoid  all  discussion  about  favoritism, 
all  lots — making  together  fifty  acres — will  be  drawn, by 
the  member  himself, through  the  ordinary  means  of  a prize 
lottery.  The  said  lots  will  afterward  be  bounded  and 
registered  in  the  name  of  the  proprietor,  in  order  to  pre- 
vent any  trouble  in  case  of  dissolution,  or  retirement  of 
any  member  from  the  Colony. 

4.  All  collective  or  public  properties,  known  as  parks, 
or  under  any  other  denomination,  bought  for  the  Colony, 
as  well  as  all  tools  used  for  common  industries,  shall  not 
be  sold,  except  in  case  of  dissolution.  No  dissolution  will 
be  effected  so  long  as  three  members  are  opposed  to  it. 

Y 

INSTALLATION. 

1.  A provisional  building  will  be  erected  for  each  fam- 
ily : lands  will  be  ploughed  and  sowed : woods  cleard  out, 
and  buildings  prepared. 

2.  A reserve  of  fifty  acres  will  be  made  in  the  center 
of  the  city,  for  provisional  buildings  such  as : school,  li- 
brary, co-operative  store,  hotel,  workshop  etc,  in  which 
fifty  acres, our  children  must  be  taught  industrially.  That 
reserve  may  be  taken  of  the  five  acres  of  our  private 
properties. 

3.  A ware-house  will  then  be  built  up,  which  will 
serve  as  a storage  for  general  supplies  and  school,  as  well 
as  for  the  goods  of  the  Colony,  destined  for  the  outside 
markets.  It  shall  also  temporarily  shelter  the  members 
arriving  at  the  Colony. 

4.  As  soon  as  this  ware-house  (hotel,)  is  finished,  the 
erection  of  private  residences  will  commence. 

VI. 

BUILDINGS. 

1.  On  a space  of  ground  covering  five  hundred  acres, 


—14— 


one  hundred  houses,  for  the  lodging  and  convenience  of 
one  hundred  families,  shall  be  built.  The  residence  of 
each  member  will,  consequently,  occupy  a space  of  five 
acres,  which  will  constitute  his  private  property.  He  will 
improve  it  or  not,  as  he  pleases.  But  the  remainder  of 
his  property  [twenty  acres,]will  be  cultivated  in  common. 

One  third  at  least  of  those  twenty  acres  must  be  keep 
in  timber  land. 

2.  The  buildings  will  be  erected  in  such  manner  as  to 
render  all  communications  easy. 

3.  As  soon  as  the  parcels  of  ground  will  be  allotted 
to  the  members,  a drawing  will  be  made  in  the  manner 
explained  above.  The  first  building  will  be  erected  on 
thegrouqdof  No.  1,  the  second  on  the  ground  of  No.2, 
and  so  on. 

When  the  installation  of  the  first  drawing  is  completed, 
the  new-comers  shall  place  themselves  in  the  neighbor- 
hood. They  will  have  the  choice  of  any  one  of  the  four 
sides  adjoining  the  properties  already  built  up ; that  is  to 
say,  the  choice  of  north,  south,  west  or  east. 

4.  One  or  several  architectural  designs  will  be  elabor- 
ated, and,  when  accepted  by  the  Colony,  these  designs 
will  be  executed  without  any  alteration,  except  what  shall 
be  judged  necessary  for  their  improvement,  in  order  to 
give  every  family  a pleasant,  comfortable  and  joyous  life, 
in  a healthful  and  commodious  home. 

5.  All  families  shall  help  one  another ; that  will  con- 
sist, in  ploughing  up  their  five  acres  and  build  their 
houses.  The  number  of  hours  for  the  construction  of 
similar  houses  will  be  notified,  and  every  member  will  be 
liquidated  concerning  his  location,  only  when  he  shall 
have  restitute  the  equivalent  of  time  taken  for  its  con- 
struction. Then,  the  first  house,  will  be  the  property  of 
No.  1,  in  the  list,  but  it  will  shelter  No.  2,  3,  4,  until 
the  second  house  will  be  built  and  inhabited  by  No.  2, 
3,  4,  5,  which,  No.  3,  4,  5,  will  leave  also  when  the  third 


—15- 


house  will  be  built,  to  be  inhabited  in  the  same  condition 
and  so  for  every  one. 


VII. 

HOURS  IN  WORK. 

1.  Six  hours  will  constitute  a day’s  work,  when 
employed  for  the  purpose  of  collective  work.  This  short 
time  as  for  its  object  the  giving  to  every  one  the  enjoy- 
ment of  home  life,  and  afford  opportunities  and  leisure 
for  private  tastes. 

2.  If  some  hurried  work  should  require  the  assistance 
of  all  the  members  of  the  Colony,  for  a greater  number 
of  hours  per  day,  then,  upon  the  demand  of  the  Super- 
intendents, everybody  should  be  bound  to  execute  their 
orders,  unless  the  person  gives  a sound  reason  for  his 
refusal. 


VIII. 

COLLECTIVE- ADMINISTRATION. 

1.  All  members  of  the  Colony  shall  alternately  become 
members  of  the  Administration.  Its  duties  shall  be  to 
send  goods  to  outside  markets  or  to  exchange  from  Colo- 
ny to  Colony,  all  products  of  any  kind  and  buy  provisions. 

Those  shipments  will  take  place  from  time  to  time 
under  the  direction  of  the  educational  delegates  who,  with 
the  assistance  of  their  scholars,  will  be  the  Secretaries 
and  the  Cashiers  of  the  Colony. 

2.  Seven  members  will  form  the  first  administration 

which,  will  be  renewed  in  the  following  manner  every 
month : One  member  retires  and  one  member  take  his 

pla  e.  The  one  who  will  follow  the  retiring  member  will 
take  the  direction  of  affairs  during  one  month,  and  so  on  ; 
so  that  in  seven  months  every  member  will  have  time 
enough  to  obtain  the  practical  knowledge  of  the  duties  in 
directing  or  superintending. 


—16— 


8.  At  least  three  members  shall  form  the  Agricultural 
board,  and  at  least  three  members  shall  form  a board  of 
Managers  for  any  industry  whatever. 

4.  Those  Superintendents  must  give  a mutual  assist- 
ance to  one  another.  For  instance,  if  the  agricultural 
department  needs  any  help  in  emergency  as,  when  the  har- 
vest or  anything  else  is  in  danger,  the  Agricultural  Board 
has  the  right  to  ask  for  assistance  from  their  collegues. 

5.  All  those  superintendents  or  managers,  doctors  and 
teachers  will  act  and  work  without  extra  remuneration  ; 
they  will  have  an  equal  share  in  the  collective,  agricul- 
tural and  industrial  products. 

6.  The  Superintendents  and  Boards  of  Management 
shall  be  elected  in  the  regular  way  of  a prize  lottery  and 
for  a specified  time ; say  three  months  at  first,  and  then 
renewed  monthly,  by  one  member  entering  and  one  mem- 
ber retiring. 


IX. 

ACCOUNT  BOOK. 

1.  All  members  of  the  Colony  shall  have  a book  for 
the  inscription  of  the  daily  hours  of  work,  in  order  to 
make  an  equitable  division  of  the  products,  according  to 
the  time  performed,  as  well  as  to  register  transactions 
generally. 

X. 

WAREHOUSE  FOR  COLONIAL  PRODUCTS. 

1.  In  due  time  every  family  will  deposit  to  the  Colo- 
nial warehouse  all  the  products  of  their  private  and  col- 
lective properties ; which  products  will  be  sent  to  outside 
markets  or  exchanged  in  other  Colonies  by  the  care  of  the 
delegates,  and  registered  at  first  in  the  book  of  the  pro- 
prietor and  next  on  the  book  of  the  said  warehouse. 


—17 


2.  All  collective  products  from  orchards,  parks,  cattles, 
etc.,  shall  be  sold  or  exchanged  for  the  profit  of  the  Com- 
munity. When  the  amount  of  sales  is  collected,  it  will 
be  immediately  given  to  the  person  having  the  right  to  it. 


XI. 

ASSESSMENT. 

1.  In  the  agricultural  department  the  sharing  will  be 
after  the  harvest  time  ; but  as  to  the  industry,  it  will  take 
place  immediately  after  the  settlement  of  every  sale  or 
exchange. 

2.  After  each  harvest,  a reserve  of  ten  per  cent  will 

be  made  as  follow : Five  per  cent  will  be  employed  for 

the  purchase  of  materials  necessary  for  the  achievement 
of  our  buildings  in  course  of  construction  and  for  differ- 
ent expenses  not  forseen,  or  taxes,  tools  etc.,  and  five 
per  cent,  for  the  purchase  of  lands  for  the  establishment 
of  a new  Colony  which  will  be  conducted  on  the  same 
basis  as  the  first  one,  upon  industrial  enterprise  ; and  after 
those  operations  are  regulated,  the  sharing  will  take  place, 

This  last  five  per  ceflt  will  be  repaid  to  its  creditors  in 
the  following  manner. 

3.  A reserve  of  ten  per  cent  will  be  taken  of  from  the 
amount  of  sales  towards  all  members  who  will  find  them- 
selves deptors  of  the  Colony,  and  that,  till  complete 
reimbursement. 


XII, 

SUPPLY. 

1.  The  Colony  will  supply  itself  from  outside  manu- 
factories until  it  is  able  to  supply  itself  by  its  own  manu- 
factories ; when  being  able  to  do  so,  all  products  will  be 
sold  or  exchanged  to  the  members  at  cost  price. 


XIII. 

EDUCATION.  * 

1.  Education  will  de  free.  Its  main  cases  will  be 


-18- 


teaching  of  the  English,  French  and  German  languages, 
and  Science,  Agriculture,  Horticulture,  Botany,  Mechan- 
ics, Chemistry,  Phisics,  professional  knowledge,  etc. 

2.  Schoolarsof  both  sexes  will  be  taught  for  intellect- 
ual knowledge,  every  morning  during  two  hours,  and  for 
professional  knowledge  every  evening  during  two  hours. 

Until  eight  years  of  age  children  of'  both  sexes  will  be 
taught  by  female  teachers.  After  that  age  they  will  be 
instructed  by  males  teachers.  Hours  of  intellectual 
and  professional  teachings  will  be  increased  according  to 
the  age  of  the  scholars. 

3.  Male  children  from  eight  to  twelve  years  of  age, 
will  be  exert  to  agriculture  three  hours  every  day  ; they 
shall  have  an  equal  share  in  their  own  production. 

4.  Male  children  from  twelve  to  sixteen  years  of  age 
will  be  directed  in  the  same  principle  for  agriculture,  three 
days  a week,  three  hours  per  day,  and  shall  have  an 
equal  share.  In  the  other  three  days  they  will  be  oc- 
cupied three  hours  a day  at  different  industries  of  their 
choice  as  : printing  of  all  kinds  ; telegraph,  telephon,  letters 
carriers,  builders,  shoemakers  or  other  industries. 

5.  Female  children  will  be  teach  in  the  same  principle 
and  at  some  work  convenient  to  their  sexe,  having  an 
equal  share  in  all  their  work. 

So  our  children  will  be  scholars  and  apprentices  till  six- 
teen years  of  age,  developping  togather  moral  and 
material  knowledge. 


XIV. 

DIVISION. 

1.  the  Colony  will  be  divided  into  Villas,  Cities  and 
Departments. 

2.  Each  house  will  form  a Villa,  one  hundred  Villas  a 
City,  and  one  hundred  Cities  a Department. 

3.  All  those  places  will  be  connected  by  easy  means 


19— 


of  communication,  such  as  boats,  railroads,  etc.,  in  order 
to  erect  a continental  city. 


XV. 

SOLIDARITY. 

1.  The  Colony  will  be  bound  for  the  whole  in  regard 
to  the  common  damages  and  credits.  In  regard  to  the 
city,  all  case  of  fire  will  be  covered  by  the  Colony. 

2.  In  case  of  sickness,  the  sick  person  shall  have  his 
share  in  the  collective  agricultural  and  industrial  pro- 
ducts. In  case  of  death  of  a member,  his  widow  will 
have  the  right  to  claim  her  share.  Her  children  will  be 
nursed  and  educated  at  the  care  and  expense  of  the 
Colony.  Old  and  unabled  persons  of  both  sexes  will  receive 
their  board  at  the  expense  of  the  Colony. 

3.  Cities  shall  be  bound  in  case  of  flood  or  epidemical 
diseas  - prevailing  among  cattle  as  well  as  the  failure  of 
harvests.  In  these  three  cases  the  cities  should  be  liable 
to  contribute  for  a third  of  losses.  Between  departments, 
the  solidarity  shall  exist  as  for  the  cities. 


XVI 

JUDICIAL  COUNCIL. 

1 . Any  member  guilty  of  infringing  on  the  freedom, 
or  attacking  the  character  of  his  fellow  colonist,  or  destroy 
their  properties,  etc,  will  be  considered  as  not  having  his 
mental  sense.  He  will  be,  therfore,  compelled  to  give 
satisfaction  for  his  offenses.  A Judicial  Council  will  be 
called  to  settle  his  case  ; he  may  dispose  of  his  products 
for  the  restoration  of  his  prejudicial  deeds. 

2.  If  the  offender  would  not  accept  the  decision  of 


20 — 


the  Judicial  Council,  his  case  should  be  referred  to  the 
state  court  of  Justice. 


XVII. 

RESIGNATION,  SUCCESSION. 

1.  Every  member  of  the  Colony  shall  not  have  the 
right  to  resign  his  membership  until  he  has  settled  all 
his  liabiliti'S,  or  found  a successor  who  takes  charges  of 
said  liabilities  specified  in  the  Constitution  by  the  third 
paragraph  of  Art. XI,  and  the  fifth  paragraph  Art.  VI. 

2.  Every  member  may  at  any  time  leave  the  Colony 
and  for  such  period  as  he  pleases.  The  Colony  will  have 
the  right  to  give  lodging  to  new  members  until  they  can 
be  established  in  their  own  private  property,  and  when 
the  absent  member  shall  return,  ihey,  of  course,  shall 
give  up  his  said  property. 

3.  The  purchaser  of  a property  belonging  to  a member 
will  take  the  place  of  the  latter  as  a member  of  the  Colony. 

4.  If  a member  should  be  compelled  to  abandon  his 
property,  the  Colony  should  pay  him  for  all  improvements 
that  he  may  have  made.  The  same  right  should  be  al- 
lowed to  a widow  who  might  be  desirous  to  retire  from 
the  Coloiw.  The  payment  thereof  would  then  be  made 
according  to  the  contract  accepted  by  the  parties. 


XVIII. 

CONTROL. 

1.  All  members  of  the  Colony,  will  have  the  right  to 
verify,  by  themselves  or  bj^  a special  commission,  all  kinds 
of  business  transacted  in  the  name  of  the  Colony. 


XIX. 

MUTATIONS. 

1.  As  all  private  and  public  properties  will  have  about 


—21— 


the  same  value,  the  members  of  different  Colonies  will  bo 
able  to  exchange  their  respective  properties. 

The  Colony  will  facilitate  these  mutations,  which  may 
be  sometimes  very  needfull,  either  to  permit  a member  to 
come  near  a member  of  his  family  or  a friend,  or  for  reason 
of  his  health,  for  which  such  and  such  climates  are  more 
or  less  favorable,  or  to  carry  on  an  industrial  business 
that  would  be  more  congenial  to  his  taste  and  proficiency, 


XX. 

BRANCHES. 

1 . As  soon  as  a lot  of  ground  is  liquidated  and  inhab- 
ited, some  more  lands  will  be  bought  for  the  settlement  of 
a new  Colony,  which  will  be  a direct  branch  of  the  first  one. 

Every  new  branch  shall  exercise  a new  industry,  in  order 
to  establish  as  many  industries  as  are  necessary  for  the 
general  want,  without  being  compelled  to  have  recourse  to 
outside  industrial  people. 

2.  Special  Commissions  will  be  named  for  the  purpose 
of  ascertaining  the  value,  in  hours,  of  all  products.  That 
is  to  say,  the  time  required  to  manufacture  the  said  pro- 
ducts. The  benefit  of  this  valuation  is  the  avoidance  of 
favor  of  priviledge  which  may  occur  in  the  different 
corporations,  and  thus  to  abolish  spoliation. 

3.  The  new  Colonics  shall  observe  the  same  duties  and 
follow  the  same  rules  toward  other  Colonies  to  be  organiz- 


XXI. 

CORRESPONDENCE-PRESS-TRANSPORTATION. 

1 . Correspondance,  the  Press,  and  Transportation  ,will 
be  carried  on  at  the  public  expense.  That  is  to  say  that,  s 
all  employee  in  these  departments,  shall  have  an  equal 
share  in  all  collective  works. 


- XXII. 

ACADEMY-, 

1.  As  soon  as  the  Colony  shall  posses  100  branches  it 


-22- 


will  create  its  own  academy,  or  delegation  of  competent 
workers,  in  order  to  carry  on  the  necessary  reforms  on 
tools  and  instruction. 

2.  Industrial  and  agricultural  Congress,  will  take 
place  periodically,  with  reward,  in  order  to  stimulate  the 
laborer.  Inventors  and  improvers,  will  receive  an  equiv- 
alent compensation  for  the  services.  * ^ 


xx  nr. 

RELIGION. 

1.  Science,  free  thought- 


XXIY. 

CONSTITUTION. 

1.  This  Constitution  is  always  to  be  revised,  and  every 
reform  proposed  for  its  perfection,  will  be  considered  as 
an  act  of  humanity  ; however,  no  revision  can  take  place 
but  after  six  months  residence  in  the  settlement. 

2.  Art.  4,  6,  8,  10,  12,  13,  shall  not  be  amended,  but 
by  the  consent  of  all  the  members  of  the  Colony. 

NOTICE. 


The  Press  is  invited  to  help  in  that  social  regeneration. 

All  workers  are  invited  to  join  the  Colony,  to  work  out  our  own 
emancipation. 

Philantropist — capitalist  and  Benevolent  Societies,  are  invited  to 
help  this  organization  of  labor;  the  only  way  to  relieve  the  poor. 
Charity  being  an  incentive  to  leaziness,  prison  and  crime. 

For  particulars,  subscriptions  etc,  address:  Secretary  of  the  Colony. 
NO.  atw  NewYork  City. 

Office  hours,  from  eight  to  ten  A.M. 

Meeting  every  Sunday  at  3 o’clock,  NO.  291  Germania  assembly 
room.  Bowery. 

Copies  of  the  Coastitution  will  be  mailed  on  reciept  of  price: 

One  copy, 10c 

5 40 

10, 60 

20, $1,00 

EXECUTIVE  COMMITTEE. 


•e  land  in  the 


I’pnroepnt  voil  anvwhpra 


4 ' 

* * 


* 


* * 4 


•* 


# 


NOTICE. 


3 0112  061593486 


The  Press  is  invited  to  encourage  this  social  regen- 
eration. 'All  wqrkers  are  in-vked  to  join  the  Colony 
and  work  out  their  own  emancipation.  Philanthro- 
pists, capitalists  and  benevolent  societies  are  invited 
to  help  this  Organization  of  Labor,  the.  only  way  to 
relieve  the  poor,  charity  being  an  incentive  to  lazi- 
ness, crime  and  the  prison. 

For  further  particulars  address  the  Secretary  of  the 
Colony,  Street,  New  York.  Office 

hours  fronOxoioA/M. 

Meetings  every  Sunday  afternoon  at  3 o’clock,  at 
the  Germania  Assembly  Rooms,  291  Bowery. 

Copies  of  the  Constitution  4will  be  mailed  on  re- 
ceipt of  price:  Single  copy,  10c;  five  copies,  -joe;  ten 
copies,  60c ; twenty  copies,  $1  00. 


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